Turf aerator having removable cover over rotatable tines

ABSTRACT

Tine assemblies (100a, 100b, 104) are secured by a single bolt (126) extending diametrically through each tine (120) located in a cavity (112) of a tine plate (110). An outer tine assembly (104) is connected to a sleeve (116) rotatably mounted on independently rotatable shafts (102) to which inner tine assemblies (100a, 100b) are connected. A tine cover (50) removably closes an opening (40) in the top plate (28) and in which weights (70) are removably received over the tine assemblies (100a, 100b, 104). Transport wheels (134) are moveable by pivoting a stop plate (140) to position an upper pivot axis (150a) of an abutment bar (150) ahead of or behind the stop axis (142) and lower pivot axis (150b). A stop (146) positioned on the stop plate (140) without the use of tools adjusts the depth of the tine assemblies (100a, 100b, 104).

CROSS REFERENCE

The present application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/407,126 filed Oct. 27, 2010.

BACKGROUND

Methods and apparatus for aerating turf are shown and described.

The conception of a pair of tine shafts driven through a differentialshaft in a turf aerator as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,773, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference, represented a major innovationin the turf field. In particular, the ability to operatively connect andclutch one or the other or both of the tine shafts, whether donemechanically, hydrostatically, or in other manners or combinations,allow the operator to make turns while the tines are still in contactwith the turf. However, once turning was a possibility, operatorsdesired further ability in directing the turf aerator during operation.

As an example, in an alternate approach by others to this majorinnovation, outer tine assemblies were rotatably mounted at the two endportions of a single driven shaft including inner tine assembliessecured to the single driven shaft intermediate the outer tineassemblies. Although increasing turning ability relative to conventionalturf aerators existing prior to U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,773, this alternateapproach did not have the turning ability achieved by the turf aeratorof U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,773.

Further, during normal operation of the turf aerator, the tines needservicing such as the result of blockage and breakage. Such servicingwas performed from underneath the conventional turf aerator which wasoften held in a tilted condition. Furthermore, replacement of tines wasdifficult to accomplish by the operator, and tine reel assembliesutilized were difficult and expensive to manufacture and assemble.

Likewise, to provide penetration of the tines into the turf, weights areremovably attached to the sides of the chassis in conventional turfaerators. It can then be appreciated that such removable weightsincreased the overall mass which resulted in increased operator fatigueand apparatus wear as well as reduced maneuverability.

Additionally, conventional turf aerators utilized various arrangementsto position transport wheels relative to the chassis to allow transportwithout tine engagement as well as to control the depth of tinepenetration. However, such arrangements were relatively complicated indesign increasing cost and maintenance as well as requiring tools foradjustment.

Thus, need for improvement in methods and apparatus for aerating existsin the field of turf management.

SUMMARY

This need and other problems in the field of turf management are solvedby providing an outer tine assembly rotatably mounted adjacent an outerend of each of first and second shafts each having an inner tineassembly secured thereto for rotation therewith. A turf aeratorindependently driving the first and second shafts, such as by ahydrostatic transaxle, has enhanced and unexpected ability to bedirected by operators during operation and while the tine assemblies arein contact with the turf.

Further, each of a plurality of tines of the tine assembly are securedby a single bolt extending diametrically through each tine located in acavity of a tine plate, with the plurality of cavities being arranged ina non-intersecting manner in the tine plate. The tine plates of theinner tine assemblies are connected directly or through an attachmentring to the shafts, while the tine plates of the outer tine assembliesare connected directly or through an attachment ring to a sleeverotatable on the shafts.

Additionally, a tine cover is removably secured to the chassis andcloses an opening in the top plate of the chassis positioned over thetine assembly of the turf aerator. Maintenance and replacement of thetine assembly can be accomplished, after removing the tine cover,through the opening. Thus, tilting the chassis to provide access fromunderneath the tine assembly as required in conventional turf equipmentis avoided.

Furthermore, weights are slideably received in a tine cover located overthe tine assembly to be positioned intermediate the first and secondside plates of the chassis and over the tine assembly. Positioning theremovable weights generally centered over the tine assembly providesincreased leverage which was not obtained by conventional turf aerators.Also, the weights can be removed from the tine cover if the tine coveris removed from the chassis such as for maintaining or servicing thetine assembly.

In other aspects, transport wheels are mounted on ends of arms havingtheir opposite ends pivotally mounted to the chassis. Abutment bars arepivotally mounted to the arms and to stop plates pivotally mounted tothe chassis. The transport wheels can be pivoted between transport andoperational positions where the upper pivot axes of the abutment barsare located in front or behind of the lower pivot axes of the abutmentbars and the pivot axes of the stop plates. Pivoting of the stop platescan be easily accomplished such as by lift tubes pivotally connected tothe stop plates and a lift handle pivotally mounted to the handlebar.The extent that the transport wheels move towards the chassis is limitedby stops connected to the stop plates and abutting with the abutmentbars in the operational position. Thus, the extent can be adjustedeasily without the use of tools by simply changing the position of thestops in the stop plates.

Illustrative embodiments will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a front, perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatusfor aerating turf.

FIG. 2 shows a rear, perspective view of another embodiment of anapparatus for aerating turf.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the chassis, transaxle,V-belt and front wheels of the aerating apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the tine reel assemblies ofthe aerating apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the tine reel assemblies ofthe aerating apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows a partial cross sectional view of the aerating apparatus ofFIG. 2.

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C show partial side views of the aerating apparatus ofFIG. 2.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachingsonly; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position,relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the illustrativeembodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the artafter the following description has been read and understood. Further,the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specificforce, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise bewithin the skill of the art after the following description has beenread and understood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top”,“bottom”, “first”, “second”, “forward”, “rearward”, “reverse”, “front”,“back”, “height”, “width”, “length”, “end”, “side”, “horizontal”,“vertical”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understoodthat these terms have reference only to the structure shown in thedrawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and areutilized only to facilitate describing the illustrative embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Illustrative embodiments of an apparatus for aerating turf are shown inthe drawings and generally designated 10 and 10′. Generally, turfaerator 10 and 10′ includes a chassis 12 including first and second sideplates 14, front and back plates 24 and 26 extending between side plates14, and a top plate 28 extending between side plates 14 and betweenfront and back plates 24 and 26. In the form shown, top plate 28 isgenerally rectangular. Chassis 12 is moveably supported on turf adjacentto front plate 24 by wheels 30 at opposite ends of a hydrostatictransaxle 32, with wheels 30 located outwardly of side plates 14. Ahandlebar 36 extends from chassis 12 in a direction away from frontplate 24 and wheels 30.

A motor 38 is mounted to top plate 28 adjacent to front plate 24. Motor38 is in driving connection to hydrostatic transaxle 32 such as by abelt drive arrangement.

In the embodiments shown, a pair of inner tine assemblies 100 a and 100b are secured to a shaft 102 each driven at the outer end by a sprocket18 and a roller chain by hydrostatic transaxle 32. Floating, outer tineassembly 104 is rotatably supported on shaft 102. It should beappreciated that tine assembly 104 is located axially outward of tineassemblies 100 a and 100 b. Specifically, inner tine assemblies 100 aand 100 b are secured to shaft 102 adjacent to its inner end and arerotatable with shaft 102. Outer tine assembly 104 is rotatably mountedto shaft 102 and is located intermediate the inner tine assemblies 100 aand 100 b and the outer end of shaft 102. Inner tine assembly 100 b isintermediate inner tine assembly 100 a and outer tine assembly 104.Shaft 102 is driven at the outer end outwardly of outer tine assembly104. In the embodiments shown, first and second shafts 102 areindependently rotatable about a tine axis with their inner ends locatedintermediate their outer ends and are independently driven at theirouter ends outwardly of outer tine assemblies 104. Each first and secondshaft 102 includes tine assemblies 100 a, 100 b and 104 as describedhereintofore. First and second shafts 102 and tine assemblies 100 a, 100b and 104 are rotatably mounted to chassis 12 between side plates 14 andadjacent to back plate 26. Shafts 102 and tine assemblies 100 a and 100b are driven by motor 38 through hydrostatic transaxle 32. Thisarrangement provides unexpected, surprising, and synergistic resultscompared to turf aerators which had all tine wheels driven or where thefloating tine wheels were located intermediate the driven tineassemblies. In particular, providing outer tine assembly 104 rotatableadjacent only the outer end or end portion rather than adjacent to bothends or end portions of a single shaft 102 results in abilities todirect turf aerator 10 and 10′ during operation which was not previouslycontemplated and which was unexpected and surprising in the field.

Further, in the embodiments shown, tine assemblies 100 a, 100 b and 104each includes a circular tine plate 110 including a plurality ofnon-intersecting, generally semi-circular cross section cavities 112extending along chords spaced from but parallel to diameters of thecircular tine plate 110. Each tine plate 110 includes an axial bore 114.

Each tine assembly 100 a, 100 b and 104 includes a plurality of tines120. Each tine 120 is formed by bending a flat sheet 122 of metal into atubular shape. The abutting edges 124 of the flat sheet 122 eachincludes a cutout 125 to define a rear opening in the tubular shape.Each tine 120 is held in a cavity by a single bolt 126 extending througha through-hole 128 extending diametrically through the tubular shape ofthe tine 120 and generally at 90° to abutting edges 124 and tine plate110.

In one embodiment, axial bores 114 of tine plates 110 of tine assemblies100 a and 100 b are welded to shaft 102, while axial bore 114 of tineplate 110 of tine assembly 104 is welded to a sleeve 116 rotatablymounted to shaft 102. Each bolt 126 extends through an aperture 118 intine plate 110, extends through one of the cavities 112, extends throughthrough-hole 128 of tine 120 and through washers, and is threaded into anut 129.

In an alternate embodiment, each tine assembly 100 a, 100 b and 104includes a circular attachment ring 130. Each bolt 126 extends throughan aperture 132 in attachment ring 130, through aperture 118 in tineplate 110, through one of the cavities 112, extends through through-hole128 of tine 120 and through washers and is threaded into nut 129.Attachment rings 130 of tine assemblies 100 a and 100 b are welded toshaft 102, while attachment ring 130 of tine assembly 104 is welded tosleeve 116. Thus, in this embodiment, tine plates 110 of tine assemblies100 a, 100 b and 104 are free of attachment to shaft 102 and/or sleeve116.

Thus, tine assemblies 100 a, 100 b and 104 can be easily manufacturedand assembled and installed in turf aerator 10 as well as allow ease ofreplacement of tines 120 in the field. In particular, tines 120 aresecurely held in cavities 112 by a single bolt 126 and are completelyexposed outside of cavities 112 without other components enclosing orsandwiching tines 120. Thus, tines 120 can be easily removed by simplyremoving a single bolt 126. Furthermore, tines 120, tine plates 110 aswell as attachment rings 130 are easy to manufacture and assemble.

In the embodiments shown, chassis 12 of turf aerator 10 includes arectangular opening 40 in top plate 28 spaced from side plates 14 andfront and back plates 24 and 26 thereof and generally located over tineassemblies 100 a, 100 b and 104. A tine cover 50 is removably secured tochassis 12 and closes opening 40 in chassis 12. Tine cover 50 includesfirst and second side sheets 52 each having a seven sided cross sectionlocated outwardly of side plates 14 of chassis 12. Thus, tine cover 50can be removably secured to chassis 12 by fasteners such as screws 54extending through side sheets of tine cover 50 and threaded in orotherwise connected to side plates 14 of chassis 12. Further, front andback sheets 56 and 58 of tine cover 50 abut with top plate 28 of chassis12 outwardly of opening 40. Tine cover 50 further includes a top sheet60 extending between front and back sheets 56 and 58 and extendingbetween side sheets 52. Front sheet 56 includes a first section 56 aextending at an obtuse angle from top sheet 60 and generallyperpendicular to side sheets 52. Front sheet 56 further includes asecond section 56 b extending from first section 56 a generallyperpendicular to side sheets 52 and parallel to and spaced from backsheet 58. Top sheet 60, side sheets 52, and back sheet 58 extendgenerally perpendicular to each other. Front and back sheets 56 and 58abut with top plate 28 outwardly of opening 40. Side sheets 52 each haveseven edges including an edge 52 a interconnected to top sheet 60, anedge 52 b interconnected to back sheet 58, edges 52 c and 52 dinterconnected to first and second edges 52 a and 52 b, an edge 52 eextending at an obtuse angle from edge 52 d to a bottom edge 52 fextending generally parallel to edge 52 a, and an edge 52 g extending atan obtuse angle from bottom edge 52 f to edge 52 b.

Removable weights 70 are received in cavities 72 formed in tine cover50. In an embodiment shown, entrances 74 to cavities 72 are formed inside sheets 52 at the intersection of top sheet 60 and side sheet 52 andof back sheet 58 and side sheet 52. In an alternate embodiment, anentrance 76 to cavity 72 is formed in back sheet 58.

It should be appreciated that placement of removable weights 70 inremovable tine cover 50 allows their placement to be generally centeredover tine assemblies 100 a, 100 b and 104 to provide increased leveragewhich was not obtained by conventional turf aerators. Thus, increasingleverage allows more efficient use of the mass of removable weights 70ensuring penetration of tines 120 into turf, and resulting in decreasedoperator fatigue and apparatus wear as well as increase maneuverability.Furthermore, removal of tine cover 50, preferably after removableweights 70 are removed therefrom, allows servicing of tine assemblies100 a, 100 b and 104 from above and particularly not from below as inconventional turf aerators. Thus, tilting chassis 12 to provide accessfrom underneath tine assemblies 100 a, 100 b and 104 as well as theinherent risk of an operator working beneath the turf aerators 10 and10′ as required in conventional turf equipment is avoided.

Turf aerator 10 and 10′ can be configured in a transport position wheretransport wheels 134 are pivoted forward and underneath chassis 12.Specifically, each transport wheel 134 is rotatably mounted to an end ofan arm 136 about a wheel axis, with arms 136 pivotally mounted by theiropposite ends to chassis 12 about an arm axis 138 intermediate frontplate 24 and the tine axis defined by shafts 102 and parallel to andspaced from and parallel to the wheel axes of wheels 134. Axis 138 isparallel to but spaced from the tine axis defined by shafts 102 and islocated intermediate the tine axis defined by shafts 102 and front plate24. The spacings of the wheel axes of wheels 134 and the tine axisdefined by shafts 102 from axis 138 are generally equal.

A stop plate 140 is pivotally mounted to chassis 12 about a stop axis142 spaced from and parallel to axis 138, the tine axis defined byshafts 102 and the wheel axes of wheels 134 and located intermediate andvertically above axis 138 and the wheel axes of wheels 134. Stop plate140 is generally isosceles triangular shaped, with axis 142 located atthe upper apex thereof. First and second threaded apertures 144 arelocated adjacent a lower apex of stop plate 140. A stop 146 is removablyconnected to and moveable with stop plate 140 by being threadablyreceived in one of the first and second threaded apertures 144 in theform shown.

A lower end of an abutment bar 150 is pivotally mounted to arm 136 abouta lower axis 150 a parallel to and intermediate axis 138 and the wheelaxes of transport wheels 134. Abutment bar 150 is further pivotallymounted to a lower apex of stop plate 140 about an upper axis 150 bparallel to and spaced from axes 138 and 142, the wheel axes oftransport wheels 134, and lower axis 150 a.

A lower end of a lift tube 160 is pivotally mounted to stop plate 140about an axis parallel to and spaced from axis 142 intermediate andaligned with axis 142 and threaded apertures 144. An upper end of lifttube 160 is pivotally mounted to a lift handle 162 in turn pivotallymounted to handlebar 36.

Abutment bar 150 and transport wheels 134 are movable between atransport position and an operational position. In the transportposition, axis 150 b is located intermediate a plane extending throughaxes 142 and 150 a and transport wheels 134. In the operationalposition, the plane extending through axes 142 and 150 a is locatedintermediate axis 150 b and transport wheels 134. The extent that axis150 b is spaced from the plane extending through axes 142 and 150 a isdependent upon abutment of stop 146 with abutment bar 150. Thus, bysimply moving stop 146 between either the first and second threadedapertures 144, the extent that axis 150 b is spaced, and thus thespacing of transport wheels 134 from chassis 12, is easily adjustable.Furthermore, since the force on stop 146 is in shear, stop 146 can beremoved and replaced without the use of tools and in the form shown issimply rotated by the operator using fingers. Furthermore, due to theovercenter relationship of axis 150 b, there is no need for a springbias of the lift arrangement. Thus, turf aerator 10 and 10′ includes alifting arrangement which is very simple in design to thereby decreasecost and maintenance as well as allowing adjustment without the use oftools as described.

Handlebar 36 is utilized to steer chassis 12 along the turf, or in otherwords to direct chassis 12 in turning to the right or left on the turfas well as to tilt chassis 12 relative to the turf about wheels 30 or134.

Although shown utilized in a single machine and believed to obtainsynergistic results, it should be appreciated that such features can beused alone or in other combinations. As an example, the tine assemblyarrangement could be utilized with conventional tine assemblies and/orwithout removable tine cover 50 as in the form shown. Similarly, theremovable tine cover 50 could be utilized in conventional turf aeratorswith or without individually driven tine assemblies 100 a and 100 band/or with conventional tine arrangements. Likewise, the tineassemblies 100 a, 100 b and 104 could be utilized in conventional turfaerators with or without individually driven tine assemblies and/orwithout removable tine cover 50 as in the form shown.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. Turf aerator comprising, in combination: achassis including first and second side plates, front and back platesextending between the first and second side plates, and a top plateextending between the first and second side plates and between the frontand back plates, with the chassis being movably supported on turfadjacent to the front plate of the chassis; a handlebar extending fromthe chassis in a direction away from the front plate; a motor mounted onthe top plate adjacent to the front plate; a tine assembly rotatablymounted about an axis to the chassis between the first and second sideplates and adjacent to the back plate, with the tine assembly beingdriven by the motor, with the tine assembly including a tine plateincluding a periphery rotatable about the axis and a plurality of tines,with each tine comprising a single component immovably fixed to the tineplate and extending from the axis in a radial direction for a radialextent to a free end configured to engage the turf; an opening formed inthe top plate intermediate the first and second side plates,intermediate the front and back walls, intermediate the motor and theback plate, and extending over the tine assembly, wherein the free endsof the plurality of tines extend through the opening formed in the topplate, and wherein the top plate is spaced from the axis less than theradial extent; and a tine cover removably secured to the chassis,positioned over the free ends of the plurality of tines of the tineassembly above the axis, and closing the opening in the top plate. 2.The turf aerator of claim 1 further comprising, in combination: aremovable weight, with the tine cover including a cavity slideablyreceiving the removable weight, with the removable weight received inthe cavity extending over the free ends of the plurality of tines of thetine assembly, positioned over the axis, and positioned intermediate thefirst and second side plates.
 3. The turf aerator of claim 2 wherein thetine cover includes a back sheet, a top sheet extending from the backsheet, and first and second side sheets extending from the back sheetand the top sheet, with the first and second side sheets locatedoutwardly of and extending over the first and second sides, with thetine cover being removably secured to the first and second side platesof the chassis by fasteners extending between the first and second sidesheets and the first and second side plates.
 4. The turf aerator ofclaim 3 wherein the opening is spaced from the first and second sideplates and from the front and back walls; wherein the back, top, andside sheets extend perpendicular to each other; wherein the tine coverincludes a front sheet including a first section extending at an obtuseangle from the top sheet and generally perpendicular to the first andsecond side sheets; wherein the front sheet includes a second sectionextending from the first section, generally perpendicular to the firstand second side sheets, and parallel to and spaced from the back sheet,with the first and second side sheets having seven edges including edgesinterconnected to the back and top sheets and the first and secondsections, a front edge extending at an obtuse angle from theinterconnection of the second section and the first and second sidesheets to a bottom edge spaced from and parallel to the top sheet, and aback edge extending at an obtuse angle from the interconnection of theback sheet and the first and second side sheets to the bottom edge. 5.The turf aerator of claim 4 wherein an entrance to the cavity is locatedin one of the first and second side sheets of the cover.
 6. The turfaerator of claim 4 wherein an entrance to the cavity is located in theback sheet.
 7. The turf aerator of claim 1 with the tine plate includinga plurality of non-intersecting, generally semi-circular cross sectioncavities extending tangentially to the axis for a length, with the eachof the plurality of the generally semi-circular cross section cavitiesintersecting the periphery and having a constant size from the peripheryfor the length, with the plurality of tines comprising a plurality oftubular tines, with each tubular tine received in one of the pluralityof cavities; and a bolt extending diametrically through each tubulartine, extending through the one of the plurality of cavities, andconnected to the tine plate.
 8. The turf aerator of claim 7 wherein eachtubular tine is in a form of a flat sheet bent into a tubular shape andhaving abutting edges, with the abutting edges each including a cutoutto define a rear opening in the tubular shape, with a through holeextending diametrically through the tubular shape of the tubular tineand generally at 90° to the abutting edges, with the bolt extendingthrough the through hole, with the plurality of cavities extending alongchords spaced from, but parallel to, diameters of the tine plate.
 9. Theturf aerator of claim 8 further comprising, in combination: anattachment ring, with the tine plate located intermediate the attachmentring and each tubular tine, and with each bolt connected to theattachment ring.
 10. The turf aerator of claim 9 further comprising, incombination: a shaft, with the attachment ring welded to the shaft, withthe tine plate being free of direct attachment to the shaft.
 11. Theturf aerator of claim 9 further comprising, in combination: a sleeveadapted to be rotatably mounted on a shaft, with the attachment ringwelded to the sleeve, with the tine plate being free of directattachment to the sleeve.
 12. The turf aerator of claim 1 wherein theopening has a size smaller than the top plate, and wherein the tinecover abuts the top plate outside of the opening.